The downvotes are unfortunate, because you're absolutely right. Intelligence has an associated cost. Natural selection will only spread "intelligence genes" if the benefit outweighs the cost. In pre-modern societies, this was likely not the case. "Social intelligence" was likely much more useful than abstract reasoning ability.
Even today, the Einsteins and Teslas don't do better in the mating game than the Brad Pitts and Kobe Bryants (likely much worse).
Edit: it would be interesting if HN handles were attached to downvotes. People would likely think twice before knee-jerk downvoting if they couldn't do it anonymously.
Even today, the Einsteins and Teslas don't do better in the mating game than the Brad Pitts and Kobe Bryants (likely much worse).
Edit: it would be interesting if HN handles were attached to downvotes. People would likely think twice before knee-jerk downvoting if they couldn't do it anonymously.